DEPARTEMNT OF EDUCATION

BY

SUSMITA BASU

2nd YEAR (PAPER-III)

AREA: DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN INDIA
UNIT II: WOOD DESPATCH
 BEIEF HISTORY
 PURPOSE
 RECOMMENDATIONS

BRIEF HISTORY: It has a very important place in the history of the Indian
education. It consists of 100 paragraphs. This despatch was declared on 19th
August, 1854 under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Wood. Sir Charles Wood was
the president of the Board of Control. This despatch deals with the various aspects
of the Indian education system.

PURPOSE:

1. To impart western knowledge and extension of western culture.

2. To create educated, reliable and efficient public servants.
3. To provide greater attention to vernacular schools.
4. To raise the moral character of native Indians.
5. To secure the economical development of U.K by providing raw materials
from the Indian market.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Creation of a Department of Public Instruction(D.P.I) under the
chairmanship of director of public instruction in each of the five provinces of
Bengal, Madras, Punjab, Bombay, Uttar Pradesh.

2. Establishment of the universities in each of the three presidency towns of

Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. The universities were to be constructed
according to the model of London universities. The universities would confer
honours degree to the successful candidates.

3. This despatch admitted the importance of primary education.

4. The Wood despatch recommended the Grant-in-aid system in the Indian

education system. Though grants were given to those educational institutions
which satisfied the conditions framed by the British government.

5. Establishment of teacher training schools. This despatch also emphasized on

the provision of scholarship for the trainee teachers.

6. The Wood despatch gave importance to the advancement of women

education.

7. In Wood's Despatch much emphasize was given upon vocational education.

It recommended the establishment of law, medical, technical and other
professional universities.

8. This despatch discarded the ' Downward filtration theory' and encouraged
the advancement of mass education.

9. The despatch pointed out the need of secular education. Therefore, only
those institutions were able to receive grants which were free from religious
bias.

10. The despatch also pointed out the importance of Muslim education.

In conclusion, it has been observed that, this despatch has certain merits and
demerits. It is an educational document , which gave forth recommendations
for the improvement of Indian education system. But the recommendations
could not be carried out in their entirely. This despatch failed to emphasize on
national education system, importance of mother tongue, advancement of
higher education. So, Indian education system never recognized this despatch
as " the Magna Charta of Indian Education System".
REFERENCES:

Bhakta,B.B.(2008). Bharatiya Shikhar Ruporekha: Wood's Despatch.West Bengal.

http://www.kkhsou.in/main/education/wood_despatch.html

http://www.publishyourarticles.net/knowledge-hub/education/importance-of-woods-
despatch-to-educational-system-of-colonial-india/5346/

SUGGESTED READINGS:

English Books:
1. Banerjee, J.P. - Education In India: Past, Present , Future.
2. Purkait, B.R. ‐History of Indian Education.
3. Singh,Y.K.- History of Indian Education.

Bengali Books:

1. Jotiprasad Bandyapadhay – Bharatiya Shikhan & Sampratik Samashya.